The Balkans
The neighbours we usually just drive through – North Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia.
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RomaniaBucharest and the rock monasteries near Ruse – north of the Danube
A weekend route – the Ivanovo rock churches and Basarbovo Monastery near Ruse, then Bucharest – the Palace of Parliament, Athenaeum, Old Town and Village Museum.
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CroatiaCroatia – Zagreb, the Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik
A 6-day Croatia route – Zagreb's Upper Town, the waterfalls of the Plitvice Lakes, Split and the walls of Dubrovnik, "the pearl of the Adriatic".
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TurkeyEdirne – Selimiye Mosque, the bazaars and the Bulgarian Church of St George
A day trip to Edirne – Sinan's Selimiye Mosque, the Old Mosque, Ali Pasha Bazaar, the Bulgarian Church of St George, fried liver, fruit soaps and shopping.
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CroatiaIstria – the Svetvinčenat medieval festival, Pula and the hilltop towns
Istria with kids – the Svetvinčenat medieval festival, Pula's amphitheatre, Motovun, Grožnjan, Buzet, Roč and the Glagolitic Alley, truffles and olive oil.
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North MacedoniaLake Dojran and Strumica – a day trip
A day trip to Lake Dojran with its traditional cormorant fishing, Strumica and the Vodoča and Veljusa monasteries, plus Samuel's Fortress and Rupite on the way back.
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SerbiaLeskovac and the Roštiljijada – Serbia's barbecue festival
Leskovac – Serbia's grill capital and its Roštiljijada barbecue festival in early September, plus nearby Caričin Grad (Justiniana Prima) and Lake Vlasina.
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SloveniaLjubljana, Lake Bled and Postojna Cave – the land of dragons
A Slovenia guide – Ljubljana's Dragon and Triple bridges, the castle, Plečnik's market, Lake Bled, Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
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SerbiaNiš – birthplace of Constantine the Great, Mediana and the Skull Tower
A day trip to Niš – the Roman residence at Mediana, Niš Fortress, the Skull Tower, Serbian food and Sukovo Monastery on the way back.
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North MacedoniaOhrid and Lake Ohrid – a weekend in North Macedonia
A guide to Ohrid – St John at Kaneo, Samuel's Fortress, Plaošnik, St Sophia, St Naum Monastery, Struga and a stop in Skopje on the way.
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SerbiaPirot – cheese, carpets and Poganovo Monastery
A day trip to Pirot – the famous Pirot kashkaval cheese, Pirot kilim carpets, the Kale fortress and Poganovo Monastery in the Jerma river gorge.
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SerbiaProlom Banja and Devil's Town – a mineral spa in Serbia
Prolom Banja on Mount Radan – mineral water, spas and New Year breaks – plus the Devil's Town (Đavolja Varoš) rock formation with more than 200 earth pyramids.
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CroatiaThe Makarska Riviera – a Croatian beach holiday between Omiš and Makarska
A summer holiday on the Makarska Riviera – beaches below Mount Biokovo, Omiš and the Cetina canyon, Brela, the Biokovo Skywalk and Split an hour away.
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RomaniaTransylvania – castles and vampires: Sinaia, Brașov and Bran
A three-day Romania route – Peleș and Pelișor castles in Sinaia, medieval Brașov and its Black Church, "Dracula's" Bran Castle and Râșnov Fortress.